Apparatus for manufacturing wire rope



April 17, 1945.

' E. RAMSJ'EDT ET AL l APPARATUS ROR MANUFACTURING WIRE ROPE Filed May 21, 1943 i ,3 Sheets-Sheet 1 50 ToP/VEX pril17,1945. E. RAMSTEDT ETAL- 2,374,133-r APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WIRE ROPE Filed May 2l, 1943 l -SSheets-Sheet'2 INVNTORS; l [MM ,Q4/757507 ma pvril 17, 1945 Y E` RAMSTEDT ETAL 2,3?4JQT3 I APPARATUS FOR-MANUFACTURING 'WIRE ROPE Filed uayzl, 1943 :s Smets-sheet s .Patente-Apt A terneros Foa autres MANUFACTURING wlan aora y A. Bamstedt, New Haven, and Daniel D. l 'I Y. Symmes, West Haven, Conn., assignors to The i American Steel and -Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey 1 applicati@ May 21, 1943,' sei-iai N o. 487,936

. sowing. (ci: sii-59) present invention, 'which is a continuationin-part of our application `Serial No. 451,352, iiled July 17, 1942', relates generallyto apparatus for manufacturing wire rope and, more particularly,

that class vof wire rope requiring multiple stranding operations,- and especially rope employing illler wires in the valleys between -thestrands of the inner andouter layers.

The vinvention contemplates improved apparatus including a novel tform of twister head having at least a pair of lay plates located in close proximity to the stranding die land adjustable relative to each other.

The principal object of the invention is to s'oA arrange the parts of the apparatus that the individual strands going to make up the rope will bejguided and held in relative positions to`each bers of strands. For example, the machine is'A capable of making a wire rope having a center strand I surrounded by six strands 2 which in turn are surrounded by twelveouter strands 4 with six intermediate filler strands 3' located in the valleys or. interstices between .the strands 42 and the strands I. The ller strands,v as will be readily apparent from an examination lof Figure 9, are of materially smaller diameter than the main strands of the rope.

Heretofore various attempts have beenv made to manufacture multiple strand rope in a. single opother vup to a point closely adjacent the strand" ing die so as-toprevent the centrifugal forces resulting from the high speed revolving of the stranding machine from throwing the strands out of their relative! positions as they approach the Vstranding die.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is al side elevation of the wire ropemaking machine illustrating one'embodiment of l the invention;

Figure 21S-a plan view thereof; Figure 3 is a' fragmentary view similar to Figtired/illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention; y

Figured is an enlarged detail of twister head shown in Figures 1 and 2:

Figure 5 is an elevation viewed from the right side of Figure 4;

tions relative to each other or single lay plates the improved..

eration, however these attempts have not been wholly successful, especially'at high speeds due to'.

the diiliculty. encountered inproperly guiding the several strands into their proper lay position with respect to each other and holding such strands in such position until theyl enter the stranding die, Furthermore, diiiiculty has been foundv in securing the proper angle of lay due to the fact that the lay plates had more or less xed posihave been used.

The present apparatus, due toits construction and arrangement of parts, 'permits such controls as are neceary to properly lay up a rope at high speed. In both embodiments of invention illustrated in the'accompanying drawings.; aconventional form of ier 5 'is provided which carries reels of strand material 8 rotatably suppl-)Red in cradle 1 .trunnioned in the flier in a'conventional manner.

' strands tol a twister head 9 which proiectsffrom Figure a '15.9.11 end' viewV of the modiiied form of twister head shown in Figure 3;

Figure 'I is an enlarged detail in longitudinal i 'section of, a modied form of twister head, the

view being takenappro'iimatel'y on line VII-VII of Figure 6; n"

Figure 8 is a sectionion une vm--vmoi' Eig'- 7 ure 7; and,

. Figure 9 `is anenlargedcr'oss sectionalview ofya l multiple strand wire rope of the character made by lthe machineof the `present invention'.

- Referringmore particularly to thedrawingsf the two types of apparatus hereinV illustrated are adapted for laying up or twisting'together a multiplicity of component strands so as'toi'orm the same 'into ka Figure 9.

unitary ropesuh as illustrated. in

Those skilled in the'art willunderstand that the machine may be adapted for making diiierent .The clement/B is /provided with a which one; end of the iiier and-terminates closely adja-l cent to *a stationary die H. The i'ree or lterminal` end of the head 9. of Figures 1, 2, 4 and.5 'cames lay plate elements A and B. The lay -plate element Ahas a threaded connection with the head' 9 and a lay plate C is formed integraltherewith.

second layrpl'ate element 'B is mounted in a cess-in the elementi!- and is adjustable relative A' '-p1ura1ity` of suitable guide sheaves t are provided on the flier for guiding the .It will be apparent,'however, that `the la'yf1'ala'te-fv Q maybe formed separate' from the'part Av and iixedly secured thereto. The threaded connection for the/Dart A withthe head 9 is opposite lhalidto the direction of rotation of the flier-and head v `so that it haveno tendency to become loos'- -ened during operation of the apparatus "I'he to `the element A. The element B-v has the lay` plate proper- G formed integral therewith here againjit wlllbe .obvious` that plate (3f maybe formed 'separatefromthe main portion oi' the elementB aridfilxecily secured thereto.

and the part B is locked in its adjusted positions by a set screw F. The stationary die H is slidably mounted on the standard' J and is adapted to be adjusted to and from the head 9 by means of an adjustment screw K.

The head 9 and the lay plate elements A and B are provided with a centrally arranged longitudinal bore I through which the core of the cable I is adapted to pass, The lay plateG carried by the member or element B is formed with a plurality of guide apertures through which the inner strands 2 of the cable pass, conventional guide bushings being incorporated in the lay plate as shown.` The lay plate G also has a plurality of guide apertures for guiding the relatively small ller strands 3. The lay plate C carried by the element 'A is provided with a plu- With the parts constructed and arranged as above described, it will be readily seenthat wire rope can be stranded having a plurality of layers of strand elements by simultaneously stranding the concentric layers in a stranding die by passing the strand elements for each concentric layer through separate relatively axially adjustable lay plates C and G which, as shown and described above, are positioned remote from the flier and closely' adjacent the stranding ,die so that the points of delivery of the strand elements from the lay plates to the stranding die are radially spaced from the axis of the stranding die a distance which is less than the radial distance from the points of delivery of the strand elements from the ier to the longitudinal axis. The close spacing of the lay plates relative to the die also reduces to a minimum the tendency of the strands to move outwardly as a result of-the centrifugal forces produced by the high speed-,revolving of the flier.

It will also be apparent that, 'with apparatus.

constructed and arranged as described above, the strands going to make up the inner layer of rope strands are at all times restrictively guided so as to. maintain them within the conical space delined by the lay plate G as a base and the stranding die H as an apex and, furthermore, since all guide apertures in the plates G and H provide tubular-like guideways, all the strand elements are positively held in their relative positions i' able motor-driven capstan L of conventional form and wound up on a suitable take-up reel M.- y In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3, 6, 7 and 8, the lay plate G is formed integral with the lay plate element B' which has a threaded connection with the head 9. The lay plate G' is provided with the guide apertures 20 and 30 for guiding the-strands 2 and 3.

The lay plate C of Figure '7 is formed as an integral part of the lay plate element A and is equipped with Ias'zaiss guide extensions A slidably mounted in guide slots formed in the member G'. The extensions are adapted to be secured in various positions of adjustment by locking screws or bolts A3, threaded into the member G', which pass through slots in the arms A2.

The lay plate C' has the guide apertures 40 for directing the outer strand toward thepoint of twist T'. The strands 2 and 3 are guided by the apertures 20 and 30 in the lay plate G toward a point of twist T2 at one extremity oi a split strand decomposed of parts H2 and I-I3 mounted in an axial seat formed in the part A. A spring H4 is interposed between the part H3 and an adjusting screw H5 threaded into the part A" so as to vary the pressure exerted by the die on the strands 2 and 3.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that apparatus arranged and constructed as illustrated in Figures 3, 6, 7 and 8 will perform the same method as set forth for the apparatus of Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 and, in addition, will provide for an additional compressing or laying action due to the die carried in the central bore of the lay element A. The apparatus last described provides for laying up a wire rope having two or more concentric layers of strands by simultaneously stranding the concentric layers in axially adjustable stranding dies', one being carried by the lay plate C'. and the other being carried on the support J. The strand elements for each concentric layer are passed from the flier :through separate and relatively axially adjustable lay plates positioned closely adjacent their respective dies, and vat a point remote from the flier, so that the points of delivery of the strand elements from the lay plates to the stranding dies are radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the stranding dies a distance which is materially less than the radial distance from the points of delivery of the strand elements from the flier tosaid longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the arrangement of parts permits the guiding and restraining of -all of the strand elements from centrifugal forces which ordinarily would tend to force them out of their proper lay positions.

In both embodiments of the invention disclosed, it isl apparent that the point of twist for .all strands can be controlled with Aprecision by varying the angle of lay of the component strands by reason of the fact that one of the lay plate elements can be adjusted relative to the other. In this way the included angle between each component strand and the axis of rotation of the ilier can be accurately adjusted and thus uniformly lay the strands in position. Also, in both embodiments, the head 9 is arranged so that the lay plates are closely adjacent the dies and serve to positively guide the strands and hold them against centrifugal forces. Any slight inequalities due to wear of the parts can be readily ,componsated for by making minoradjustments from time to time. Thus the rope-making machine can be maintained in an optiumum operating vcondition over long periods of time.

y vention as dened in the appended claims.

We claim: l. A machine for making wire strand or rope` including a rotary flier carrying a. plurality of wire or strand guiding apertures therein, one o! reels of strand or rope elements. a stationary strand die, the ier carrying an adjustable twister head equipped with a plurality of lay plates, one of which is xedly secured -to said ilier'and the other of which is slidably supported by saidvxedly secured one, each of 'said lay plates having.

a plurality of tubeflike wire or strand guide apertures, said iixedly secured lay plate having a plurality ofv openings adjacent the apertures therein and corresponding in number-to the wire or strand guidingv apertures of the slidably sup-V `to and arranged coaxially with the apertur'es in the adjacent lay plate, one part. of the twister head being slidably supported by another part thereof, and means'for locking said parts in variousdesired positions 4of longitudinal adjustment.

3. A machine for making .wire strand or rope, including a rotary ilier carrying a plurality of supplies of wire or strand, a stationary strandv die, said nier comprising a two-part twister head, each part carrying a respective lay plate having a pluralityvof apertures therein encircling and guiding said wires or strands, one of said parts of the twister head having'a longitudinal bore and the other part having a portion slidable therein so vas to vary the relative positions oi' the respective lay plates carried by said parts, said first-named part having a plurality of openings adjacent the apertures therein and corresponding in number to and arranged coaxially with the apertures oi said second-named part, means for preventing one of the parts from turning relative to the other, and I. means for holding the two parts in various posi-Y tions of relative longitudinal adjustment. Y

4. A machine for making wire rope including a movement.

said lay plates being normally held against movement relative to said twister head and said ilier,

the other of said lay plates being 'mounted s'o as to prevent rotary movement relative to said iirstnamed lay plate while permitting a limited adjusting movement toward and' away from said iirst-named lay plate, said iirst-named lay plate .having a'plurality of openings adjacent the apertures therein and corresponding in number to and arranged coaxially with the apertures of said second-named lay plate, and means for locking said.) second-named lay plate against said: limited 6. A machine for making wire strand orrope, includinga rotary flier, a stationary strand die, the 'ilier carrying an adjustable .twister head equipped with atleast a pair of` lay plates. each lay plate having a plurality of tube-like wire or strand guiding elements therein, one of said lay plates being-carried by said head and normally.

' held against movement relative thereto, said lay plate having a plurality of openings adjacent the guiding elements therein and corresponding in number to and arranged coaxially with the tube- -like elements o'f the otherlay plate, said other lay plate being mounted so as. to permita limited movement toward and away from said first-named lay plate so as to maintain-the wire or strand guidingelements thereof always coincident with the said openings 'in the Isaid iirst-named lay plate, andmeans for locking said second-named lay plate in position relative to said first-named lay plate. .s

'7. A machine for making wire rope including a rotary flier, a stationary strand die, the iiier p carrying an adjustable twister head equipped with rotary ier carrying a plurality of supplies of.

strand wire, a stationary strand die, said iiier means for locking said parts in various positions oi' longitudinal adjustmenta sectional strand die carried by one oi.' said parts, and yielding means other part so as to vary the relative'posi- -55 for urging one section thereof toward thel other.

5. A machine for stranding wire strand or rope. comprising a rotary nier, a stationary strand die l mognted adjacent one end or 'said sier, said nier carryingattliestranddieendatwisterheadl which projects toward and terminates closely ad- Jacenttothestationarydieandisequippedatits terminalendwlth at leasta pairollay plates, eachlayplate havingaplurality ottube-lihe at least a pair of lay plates, each lay plate having a pluralityof strand guiding tube-,like apertures therein, one of said' lay plates being carried` by said vhead and normally held against movement relative thereto, the other of said lay plates vbeing mounted so as top'ermit a limited movement toward and away from said first namedA lay plate, means for locking said second named lay plate in positionrelative to said first named lay plate, and 'a second stranding die mounted in said second named lay plate. o.

8.,'A machine for making wire rope including a rotary flier carrying a plurality of reels of strandA wire, a stationary stranding die,` a movable' stranding die, the ilier carrying a twister head equipped with at least a pair 'of lay plates, each lay plate having a plurality of strand guiding tube-like apertures therein, one of said lay plates being carried by said iiier and normally held against movement relative thereto, the other ofsaid layplates being mounted so. as Ato permit a limited movement toward and away from said ilrst named lay plate, said movable stranding die being adjustably mounted in said Asecond named lay plate, and means for locking said mov- '.able stranding die and said second named lay' lplate inposition relative to said ilrst named lay Plate. 

